Search form

The Fitzwilliam Museum houses the principal collections of art and antiquities of the University of Cambridge, and holds over half a million objects in its care. It is also one of the eight museums that comprise the University of Cambridge Museums consortium (UCM).

The Department of Applied Arts is responsible for nearly 30,000 objects, the majority ranging in date from c. 1200 to the present day. The collections are mainly Western European but we also have important Asian (Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Indian) and Islamic holdings. The major categories comprise: arms and armour, ceramics, clocks and watches, enamels, fans, furniture, glass, jewellery, lacquer work, objets de vertu, silver and metalwork, sculpture, and textiles.

Within the Museum there are 6 conservators (attached to curatorial departments), a collections care conservator and a research scientist all working under the Head of Conservation. The Hamilton Kerr Institute (HKI) for paintings conservation is a department of the Fitzwilliam, with its own Director, who is also Assistant Director (Conservation) of the Fitzwilliam. The Museum conservators and staff of the HKI form the Fitzwilliam Museum Conservation Division.

The Research Assistant works as part of a small, dynamic team to ensure the long-term preservation of the Applied Arts collections and make them accessible for the purposes of study and display. Importantly, the role-holder addresses the preservation and conservation needs of the collection for the benefit of future generations and, through his/her work, contributes to ongoing

research through the practice of the highest quality interventive conservation treatments and preservation measures. The role-holder participates in the Museum-wide Collections Care programme and collaborates with other conservators across the Museum and the UCM Collections Care and Conservation Consultation Group (4C).

The role purpose is to support and maintain the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Applied Arts collections and the University’s national and international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Contribution in excellence for research will be as a member of the Museum’s Conservation team carrying out preventive conservation and conservation treatments and, through this, research into the collections under the guidance of the Objects Conservator (Applied Arts). Typical materials include inorganics such ceramics and glass, organics such as textiles and ivories, historic and archaeological metalwork and mixed media objects such as enamels, jewellery, arms and armour. The role-holder will also take part in the survey of the furniture collection and may assist with the survey and pilot project for the conservation and storage of the Lennox-Boyd collection of c.480 fans. Contribution to publications will be encouraged.

Offers of employment will be conditional upon the satisfactory outcome of a Security check. Whether an outcome is satisfactory will be determined by the University.